History of the Friends
The Town of South Windsor operated Wood Memorial Library as a town library from 1927 until 1968, when the need for a larger facility in a more central location caused the town to build a new public library and to cease operations at Wood.
A grassroots effort to keep book lending available at Wood as a branch of the public library was abandoned after two years. However, not willing to relinquish their dream, in 1971 a group of local residents incorporated the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum, Inc. as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and reopened the building to the public. This wholly volunteer effort was led enthusiastically by the Friends’ first librarian, Edith Vibert.
Since 1971, the Friends of Wood, as well as operating the library, have grown to offer a wide variety of entertaining, educational and cultural programs, continuing the vision of the building’s donor. In 1990, the Friends added an archives, to preserve local and regional history.
History of the Building
William Wood, philanthropist, farmer, cattle dealer and lifelong bachelor, chose Hartford architect, William Marchant, to design a library as a memorial to his parents, Dr. William R. Wood and Mary Lyman Ellsworth Wood. He also established a Trust Fund, overseen by the Wood Memorial Library Association, to cover the cost of utilities and maintenance of the building and grounds. The library opened to the public in 1927, operated by Town employees. The Trust is still overseen today by members of the Raymond family, relations of William Wood. For more information about the Wood Memorial Library Association and the Wood Memorial Library Trust please visit their website.
In 1976, an addition to the back of the original building, designed to complement its Colonial Revival style, was constructed to hold a growing book collection. In 2007, a tower was added containing a second staircase, allowing for larger audiences in the concert hall, and an elevator, making the building ADA compliant. The former addition was funded by the Trust, the latter by the Trust, the Raymond family and other generous donors.
Wood Memorial Library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Windsor Farms Historic District.
The Joint Building Committee
The Joint Building Committee (JBC) is a group that consists of board members of the Wood Memorial Library Association (Trustee of the Wood Memorial Library Trust which owns the Wood Library building), and staff and board members of the Friends of Wood Memorial Library and Museum (which runs the library and its programs). The JBC meets regularly to identify and address issues of maintenance and improvement.